UPDATE - Georgia: At least 4 miners killed in mine explosion

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM PRIME MINISTRY

By Davit Kachkachishvili

TBILISI, Georgia (AA) - At least four miners were killed and six others injured in a coal mine explosion in west-central Georgia, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday.

The explosion occurred on the early morning in the country’s Tkibuli city, the ministry said in a statement.

“Methane explosion supposedly caused the collapse of the ceiling in the tunnel,” Georgia Today reported quoting the ministry.

According to the newspaper, the injured persons were taken to the hospital and one of them was in critical condition.

An investigation has been launched.

Later, Georgia’s Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze declared July 16 a day of national mourning following the fatal incident.

In a statement, Bakhtadze said that flags will fly at half-mast across the country over the “tragic” incident.

The mine where the explosion occurred was temporarily closed, it added.

In April, another explosion in the same mine killed six miners and injured three others.